Tulane Innovation Day

Tulane Innovation Day, presented by the Tulane Innovation Institute in partnership with the Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking, is part of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week 2026 (NOEW). 

This free event is open to the entire community and will feature inspiring speakers, panel discussions, and competitions showcasing innovative ideas and successful entrepreneurs.

Attendees can expect practical advice for starting ventures and insights into investment opportunities within New Orleans startups.

Tulane Innovation Day Schedule of Events

12 - 1 PM | Fireside Chat with Bong Suh and Brett Hurt & Tulane Ventures Seed Fund PresentationThe day begins with a conversation between Bong Suh, a seasoned CFO and tech operator who has helped startups navigate growth, capital, and volatility from the dot-com era through today's AI economy, and Brett Hurt, CEO and co-founder of data.world and author of The Entrepreneur's Essentials. The program continues with a panel on venture funding featuring Dr. Kimberly Gramm of Tulane Ventures, joined by Chris Millan of BekenBio and Rahul Gopal of CampusKnot. The discussion will highlight how AI is reshaping higher education and healthcare through real-world applications.

1-2 PM | Taylor Changemaker Institute ShowcaseSupport the next generation of Tulane changemakers by providing live feedback to students building businesses with social or environmental impact.

2-4 PM | Tulane Innovation Institute $50K Demo DayWatch aspiring entrepreneurs from Tulane and the New Orleans area compete for startup funding at this pitch competition, which offers a top prize of $25,000, a second-place prize of $15,000, and a third-place prize of $10,000.

4-5 PM | Awards & Networking ReceptionConclude the day with a celebration of entrepreneurship featuring networking, refreshments, and the announcement of the $50K Demo Day winners, our GWIN Mentor Awards recipients, and the winner of the Idea Bank Contest.

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Tulane Innovation Day is one of many events happening during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week 2026 (NOEW), a 5-day celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, and culture taking place March 9-14, 2026, across the city.

To access everything NOEW has to offer, register for FREE at www.noew.org today.

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Please contact Jay England at jengland@tulane.edu at least two weeks in advance of the event if you have accessibility needs and need a disability-related accommodation to participate.